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Happy Spring! Honestly it is kinda weird to say that in March but hey when there are multiple days of 65+ in a row I believe the statement is deserved! Also happy belated St. Paddy’s Day!! Hope your day was full of gold coins, celebrations and Irish dancers! We have had a CRAZY weekend and are slightly sad its over (ok maybe its just me who’s down in the dumps) but this year was for sure one of the best! Saturday we danced in a smaller parade and on stage with my favorite band the Elders and let me tell you that was one of the most fun nights EVER! And when we were off stage we were front stage…what? Yep mom and I fist pumped in a mosh pit to some Irish rock. Normal? Nope. Fun? Heck ya!

Tuesday was the one day a year we can walk around in full wig and skirt without being look at weird….not. The amount of people trying to take “sneaky” photos of me and running away was comical. But hey memories right?! Anyway we danced in the Kansas City parade (5th largest in the country if I do say so) and then partied it up with some family friends that are more family than friends! St. Patrick’s day has become more than a day to wear green and party it up, it is a day to share talents as entertainment, be with friends, and celebrate or heritage.

Today I’m back in normal clothes and make-up and have an interview with a home for recovering woman. Fun life is over back to work (err volunteering?). Ugh. But hey sunshine ahead!!

Isn’t it funny how the past is always being brought up? It could simply be about this past Christmas or who said what last week- or even just yesterday. But the way back past, the “olden days” are brought up so often as well. I had a Social Studies teacher who said almost daily ‘The only thing new is the history we haven’t read yet.’ meaning history repeats itself. I for one pray that my 6th grade days don’t come and bite me in the butt when I’m 30. But that is slightly besides the point. I am a huge advocate for living in the moment but I just as often love sitting and talking about memories and comparing the details.There is something to say about living in the moment but appreciating the past. I can’t remember 25 biology definitions but I sure can tell you about the puppet shows my nannies used to put on for me when I was 4. I can’t tell you what presidents died on the 4th of July but I can share about the first time I had sweet tea (best sonic trip EVER). The time I left that letter in the bathroom will stick with me way longer than how to conjugate irregular verbs in Spanish. But isn’t that the point? Isn’t that the point of the past? I thought it was supposed to work like that, the good and truly meaningful things stick with you. They stick on you like a fly to molasses. They fly in full speed- not stopping- and quickly they stick and don’t move. Stuck for years to come. Luckily they are no mosquito because who knows some Jurassic Park may come to life. Memories stay in the past- stuck and in a weird way they live on in our heads but that’s where they stay. If I decided I wanted to re-live a moment that I so vividly remember and loved how I was feeling at the time then when it happened again it wasn’t as fabulous wouldn’t that memory be ruined? That fantastic day would be ruined just because I wanted to live it again instead of bucking up and making a new moment. We hold on tight to those moments- those days that are merely stories now- we have such a strong grip on them we often forget to make new memories now. So tonight I am having to tell myself to loosen my grip a smig and live my life for now because I don’t want history to repeat itself. I want to create history- be apart of it. Everyday I have 24 hours; 1440 minuets; 86400 seconds to make my history. Why would I waste that precious time reliving history? Why do I hold on so tight to what is already done and over? Because I am slightly (or very) afraid of the future. Duh. My past is sweet and comfortable. It’s like sleeping in my Dad’s t-shirt again, the familiar smell and soft texture. Old, comforting, and safe. Oh so safe. The past is safe, it is familiar, it is recognizable. But the future is new and exciting, it is slightly uncomfortable and scary, but it is new. Some days it will be the new like smell of a new car and other days it will be like that new shirt that gets ruined the first time through the wash. But it will all be so worth it because tomorrow could be end up being one of those memories you want to hit pause and rewind on. So wake up live the day until the 86400 second as best as you can. Every minute you waste is a minute that won’t be apart of those awesome memories. So live each day for the future so that you can look back and want to recreate the moment but know that moment is there because you didn’t recreate another. Carpe diem my loves, carpe diem.

Hope everyone had a happy holiday season! We had a wonderful time eating (waaay more than we should have!!), laughing, and spending time with the family! This year we spent our Christmas in Branson, MO, where my grandparents live, and let me tell you the laughing and memory making never stopped! Whether we were laughing at Anchorman 2 , visiting Ripley’s Believe it or Not Museum, shopping, or seeing how many people could do a push up on top of each other ( yes, it was quite comical). We had a blast. Family time is the best time.

‘Tis the season for many things: for my high school daughter (Molly) it is the season to study, for my youngest it is the season to bake, for my middle child it is the season to curl up and read a good book, for me tis the season to reminisce on the memories. In light of that, I decided to look back on my old blog and share some of these “blog worthy” moments with you all. Remember to slow down this season and enjoy your kids while they are young or if they are old and grown, take time to remember when they were still your babies. Have a wonderful holiday season.

Yesterday was the first day of school for the girls. We took the traditional photo in the same place so that each year we can compare how much they have grown. ( Like I need a photo to remind me how fast they are growing!)

Apparently this is a new phase of motherhood. I suppose it is called the “no-babies-left-at home-so-start-growing-up-yourself” stage. Given I have the mental age of a 28 year old and am married to a man with the mental age of a 21 year old, the girls will soon be more mature than us.

Life Happens… I might as well embrace it and get ready for this next “stage” of motherhood. Who knows maybe Moms in this stage get a whole new hip-no-spills wardrobe?!

Tuesday, September 2, 2008

My “Cowboy” Grandad of 96 passed away and we celebrated his funeral Mass last week. There were as many laughs as tears and the stories were plentiful. Because he was so healthy and full of spirit, he was able to travel up until the last month of his life. He was famous for his sayings.. our girls favorite is repeated at the dinner table on a regular basis. “Up to my lips, touch my gums, look out guts here it comes.”

On Friday, Maeve who is only in her 2nd week of kindergarten, received a school honor… her name was announced over the intercom for getting the viking virtue for responsibility. However, since Maeve doesn’t know the meaning of “Viking” or “Virtue” and when she hears “Responsibility,” it usually isn’t good. Hence, she thought she was in trouble and had to go see the “principal.” Instead of a proud smile, she burst into tears. Her sisters finally calmed her down and explain it was a “good thing.” So much for her first school honor.

The Irish Festival and Feis was this past weekend. Although I missed thefestivities because of travel, my in-laws accompanied Brian and the girls. Thankfully my MIL was able to curl Molly’s hair ( check out the ringlets that are required for an Irish Dance competition). Molly won a first place in her Single Jig and also medaled in her light jig and slip jig. Upon learning she had won, a bystander was heard saying, “watching her reaction is better than watching the dances!”

The weekend capstonedyesterday at the Body Mind Spirit Triathlon. Our family church group hosted the event. The families participating started preparing last May walking/running 26 miles, reading 26 books and doing 26 acts of service — one mile, one book and one good deed at a time. The celebration run/walk was yesterday. Hundreds of people showed up, and we were able to raise $10,000 to go to a school in Africa. Our Maureen prayed last night in her “specials” that we keep raising money so that all kids everywhere have a school to go to. Amen Maureen!

Monday, November 3, 2008

70 degrees AND a Friday night… it doesn’t get any better than that for a Halloween celebration. For dinner we served up brains on a bun, cheese fingers, eyeballs and spider cookies then we were off for some serious Halloween fun.

Ms Hannigan and I share the same theme song … only it is all in the way you sing it that changes the meaning.

This past weekend Brian and I celebrated Valentines Day and Brian’s 38th birthday in St. Louis. Molly danced in the St. Louis feis and earned herself another medal. Maureen is anxiously awaiting the day she can pin on a number, throw on a wig and dance herself.

On Sunday we played an adult sized “Shoots and Ladders” game at the STL City Museum…even watched a mini circus featuring some amazing circus students…

Tuesday, August 17, 2010

It’s trite. “Time Flies.” “They grow up so fast.” “It seems like just yesterday.” All of them. Trite. We need a new phrase that holds the magnitude of what these statements mean.

Today our oldest started middle school, our middle 4th grade and our youngest 2nd. I have been trying to find the words to describe what I am feeling.

I told a friend today that I started having kids at age 12 … I meant that I felt too young to have a “tween.” It was the wrong description. I know because of the blank stare.

How about:

I cried today because I realized I embarrassed my child, by just being seen with her

I thought by sharing the memories of my first day of 6th grade would be a bonding experience with my child. It wasn’t; she didn’t relate to my story about my new “Jessica McClintock” jumper that I wore on my first day of school.

I sang along to one of their favorite songs on the ipod, they stopped singing.

It’s OK. I know I did it to my Mom, too. I guess I should see it as a right of passage. They still said prayers with us tonight. They still kissed us goodnight. They still told us they loved us.

Oh, If Only I Could Freeze Time…. I know…. trite.

Thanks for allowing me a trip down memory lane. Thanks, too, to Molly for encouraging this Mother/Daughter blog. Tis the season for new memories!